Graduate Programs in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology

Industrial archaeologists record, interpret, and preserve industrial and engineering-related artifacts, sites, and systems in their cultural and historical contexts. Industrial archaeology generally applies to the study of industry since the Industrial Revolution, and it can include sites as old as seventeenth-century iron forges or as recent as twentieth-century steel mills.

Our interdisciplinary approach fuses archaeology, historic preservation, the history of technology, material culture, the history of architecture, and anthropology. Hands-on fieldwork, archaeological surveys, and excavation—as well as architectural, historical, and archival research—reflect the emphasis upon the material remains of industry.

The MS in Industrial Archaeology prepares students for careers in cultural resource management firms or for additional academic study. Students pursuing the PhD in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology explore and interpret the history of industry, work, and the associated material culture.

This program is characterized by interdisciplinary study, an emphasis upon material culture, and projects of scope and complexity. Research topics include the rise and decline of industrial facilities, the environmental consequences of past industrial developments, and heritage-related tourism, among others.

PhD Requirements

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all course work and research credits (see credit requirements below)

Pass Qualifying Examination

Pass Research Proposal Examination

Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation

Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements

MS–PhD (minimum)

30 credits

BS–PhD (minimum)

60 credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.